Waterloo, IL – A devastating barn collapse in Waterloo on Saturday has resulted in the death of a Missouri man and the emergency rescue of another, amidst visible smoke and flames.
According to Monroe County Sheriff’s Department reports, officials responding to the scene at 166 Country Club Lane, encountered the collapsed structure ablaze. A 42-year-old man from Kirkwood, MO, conscious but with severe leg injuries, was extracted by first responders and promptly taken to a St. Louis hospital for emergency care. Unfortunately, 58-year-old Derrick Spalt from Wildwood, MO, was found unconscious and could not be saved, pronounced deceased under the debris.
The presence of smoke and flames raised urgent concerns at the site; however, it is still unclear if the fire contributed to the barn’s collapse or was a consequence of it. Deputies and other emergency personnel, who arrived within two minutes of the call, faced intense and hazardous conditions during the rescue operations. As investigations by OSHA are underway to ascertain the cause, the Sheriff’s Department has cautioned the public to keep a distance from the unstable and hazardous location.
